Flexible electric connection



(no new.

J. .F. WOLLE NSAK. FLEXIBLE ELECTRIC CONNECTION.

No. 421,802. Patented Feb. 18, 1890.

N. ruin MLMW WW u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. \VOLLENSAK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLEXIBLE ELE CTRIC CONNECTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,802, dated February 18, 1890.

Application tiled October 19, 1889. Serial No. 327,559. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN F. \VOLLENsAK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Illinois, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Electric Cord-Bell Connections, of which the following is a specification. v

The object of my invention is to make a flexible electric cord-bell connection, designed for places Where the push-button is to be movable or capable of being placed in different positions, as on the table in a dininglOOlII to be pressed by the hand, or under the table to be pressed by the foot, or in a chamber, where it is desired at times to have the push-button in a bed for the use of an invalid, and for similar purposes; and my invention consists in the features and details of con struction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the push-button, flexible cord, and plug by which the electrical connection is made. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the floor-plate to which the connection is made. Fig. 3 is a Vertical section of the fi.oorplate, taken in the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the plug, taken in the line 4 4. of Fig. 1, and Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical sections of modified plugs.

In making my improved flexible electric cordbell connection I make What I term a floorplate A, that is adapted to be attached to a floor, or to a table, or to a wall, or in any other convenient place in various rooms of a house. This floor-plate is connected to the respective wires of. an electric circuit connectingwith a bell or other alarm, which will be rungor name implies, are hollow and open at the top of the floor-plate. hen this plate is arranged in a floor or other place where it occupies a vertical position, there will naturally accu mulate in the tubes dust and other foreign substances that may interfere with the operation of the parts. To keep the tubes clean, therefore, I prefer to provide them with a slanting hole or opening I), as shown in Fig. 3, to enable the dust or other material getting into them to pass out without lodging or accumulating therein. I next make a plug E, to which the push-button is connected by a flexible cord. This plug is made of insulating material with tubes F extending through the same to afford means for connecting the two members of the flexible cord to them. In making this connection I prefer to provide the tubes F with scre\ -threads at the lower end to enable the contact-pieces G to be inserted and fastened. These contact-pieces are preferably slightly sprung apart at their outer ends, as shown in Fig. 1, and are of a proper size and distance apart to enable them to be inserted into the tubes B of the floorplate. I11 inserting them the ends are slightly pressed toward each other, so that a sure contact is secured. As they are slid into the tubes 13 they come into metallic contact therewith, so as to continue the electric circuit to the wires of the flexible cord. The holes passing through the tubes F are preferably made with a shoulder f, as shown in Fig. 4:.

To effect the attachment of the cord to the tubes in the plug the cords are pushed through before the contact-pieces G are inserted. The covering material is turned back, so as to expose the ends of the wires, and the wires are bunched or knotted. The cord is then drawn back until the bunch or knot of covering material and exposed wires rest against the shoulders f, when the contact-pieces G are screwed in tightly against the bunches or knots, pressing them firmly against the shoulders f, and securing a metallic connection between the wires of the flexible cord and the Contact-pieces. The same result will of course be obtained if, instead of screwing the ends of the contact-pieces directly against the bunched wiresa loose piece of metal be inserted between them, which will be pressed against the bunched wires when the contactpieces are screwed. in.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown modified forms of plug adapted to be used for electric telephone-bell and cut-out connections; but the attachment of the cord to these plugs is the same as above described, and depends upon the bunching of the covering of the wires and the wires themselves and the pressing them firmly against a shoulder, as already explained, although in Fig. (3 this is effected by a simple screw.

In operation the floor-plates are located Wherever desired in the Various rooms of the house. The push-button, with its flexible cord and plug, may be carried about by the person, or left in any convenient place. Vhen it is desired to ring the bell, the contact-pieces are pushed into the tubes of the floor-plate and the push-button pressed, When the bell will be rung. \Vhere the flexible cord and push-button are used in a dining-room,they may be removed, as any other article, and placed on the table when a meal is served. When they are intended to be used in a sickroom, they may be placed in the bed of the invalid, so that they may be convenient for use Whenever required.

hat I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a floor-plate, a flange extending out therefrom and bent or overlapping at its edge, an insulating-piece fastened thereto by the bent oroverlapping edge of the flange, and tubes arranged in the illsulatingpiece and in metallic connection with the Wires of the circuit, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a floorplate, tubes arranged therein, but insulated therefrom, and in metallic connection with the Wires of the circuit, and contact-pieces adapted to fit into the tubes in the floor-plate to make electrical connection, substantially as described.

JOHN F. \VOLLENSAK.

Witnesses:

LATHROP P. FARNHAM, GEORGE S Parson. 

